On Remebering Stuff

For Dad (and all of us to a certain extent) memory is an issue. It’s always interesting to notice what he remembers. He may not remember, really, what happened from one day to the next but sometimes something will trigger a memory. For example, it’s Christmas season now so there’s lots of seasonal music playing—lots of references to “joy.” Dad heard “joy” and said “joy, joy. . . Joy Baker. Joy, June, Jeff Baker and Jeff Baker Jr.” and off we went into a series of stories about good friends from our days in Ventura, CA. You know? I haven’t thought about the Bakers in years.

A more recent memory has to do with Jim and Rachel Wisehart. Jim and Rachel have been attending lots of weddings lately. Apparently, Jim created an elaborate structure in the back of his truck (a wooden frame of sorts) that would allow the entire wedding party to climb into the truck bed (wearing formals) and be transported from the church to the reception hall. This is a vivid memory for Dad and he tells the story in great detail.

Yesterday we went to the Christmas parade in Springfield. This evoked memories of Dad’s marching days in Fort Worth. He thinks they positioned the trombones in the front of the band. Christmas lights remind him—again of Fort Worth, TX—when they used to drive around to see Christmas decorations. I chimed in with my own memory of “Candy Cane Lane” in Ventura but that one didn’t scan. Oh well. I could tell you more stories but that’s about all I can remember right now.

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